University of Texas

A University of Texas-Austin fraternity house hosted a “western” themed party that apparently became a “border patrol party.” Some are calling Saturday's gathering “racist.” According to reports, several students belonging to Phi Gamma Delta dressed in ponchos and sombreros, wore construction uniforms with Hispanic names.

AUSTIN — Oklahoma State notified Texas officials this week that it wants to take sworn statements from Longhorns coach Charlie Strong and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson about who is calling the plays at Texas.

The move stems from Oklahoma State’s breach of contract lawsuit against former Cowboys assistant Joe Wickline, who is now on Strong’s staff at Texas.

AUSTIN — The new chancellor of the University of Texas System told Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Republicans on Thursday that concealed handguns at colleges will make campus less safe.

William McRaven, the former Navy admiral who directed the Special Forces operation to kill Osama bin Laden, took over the lead of the University of Texas System this month. As his predecessor, Francisco Cigarroa, did in previous years, McRaven wrote a letter to state leaders outlining campus opposition to allowing concealed weapons in campus building and classrooms.

(AP) The Texas Attorney General's Office says a fund that paid University of Texas law professors millions in extra compensation lacked transparency and violated school rules. A copy of the AG's report obtained Friday by the Austin American-Statesman says loans, mortgages, housing allowances and other financial incentives helped to attract and retain faculty. Regents Chairman Paul Foster said in a statement that the report “will be addressed.”

The new president for the University of Texas’ Rio Grande Valley campus approved “Vaquero” as the university’s mascot despite a backlash from students, alumni and South Texas lawmakers.

UT’s Board of Regents set up its Rio Grande Valley campus as a way to grow their South Texas institutions. They merged UT-Brownsville and UT-Pan American, and added a new medical school for the region. Part of that transition involved coming up with a new mascot and school colors.